Immigration, Visas & Work Permits

Among the most frustrating issues for foreigners of living in Indonesia are the obtaining and maintaining of visas and work permits.

The amount of red tape and bureaucracy in involved in obtaining certain of these visas can be quite extraordinary.

These are the most common types of visas currently available in Indonesia:

Visa-On-Arrival (VOA)

Tourist Visa

Single Entry Social Visa (Sosbud)

Single Entry Business Visa (Business)

Multiple Entry Social Visa (MESV)

Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV)

Temporary Residence Visa (KITAS)

Retirement Visas

Permanent Residence Visa (KITAP)

Other specialised visas for diplomatic staff, NGOs, journalists and artists are also available.

All of these visas have their own special requirements, however common to all of them is the requirement that passports have at least six month’s validity past the expiry of the issued visa. Thus, a 12-month Temporary Residence Visa would require a validity of at least 18 months at the time of application.

Laws, regulations, procedures and requirements for Indonesian visas and work permits change constantly. (You may wish to re-read that last sentence.) For qualified and up-to-date advice, consult a trusted and qualified agent that specializes in such matters.

Visa-On-Arrival (VOA)

As their name implies, Visa-On-Arrival (VOA) are issued directly upon arrival into Indonesia. They are mainly used by tourists.

The VOA costs US$25 for a 30-day visa, and US$10 for a 7-day visa, which must be paid in cash.

Having paid the fee for the visa, visitors can then proceed to a special immigration counter where passports will be stamped with the VOA. You may sometimes be asked to produce an onward or return trip ticket.

It must always be remembered that a VOA cannot be extended under any circumstances. Before it expires, you must leave the country. Many people wanting to extend their visit to Indonesia simply get a cheap flight to Singapore and return to Indonesia often on the same day. There is no problem with Indonesian immigration authorities with you doing this, as long as they do not suspect that you are illegally working here.

Tourist Visa

Embassy-issued Tourist visas are valid for 60 days, and are not extendable.

Citizens of countries that are not on the VOA or Visa Free lists are required to apply for a tourist visa at an Indonesian Embassy/Consulate before entry to Indonesia.

Also, tourists from any country wanting to stay in Indonesia for longer than allowed by the VOA may also wish to consider this type of visa.

Single Entry Social Visa (Sosbud)

The Social Visa, or what was formally known in Indonesia as a sosial-budaya (social-cultural) visa, or sosbud, is issued for the purposes of:

Visiting family members/relatives in Indonesia

Visiting social organization in the same field of endeavor

Exchange visits for education and training in Indonesia

To give a lecture or join a non-commercial seminar/conference in social, cultural or governmental fields, with permission of a related agency/institution/department

This visa is issued by an Indonesian embassy/consulate upon production of a letter from a sponsor from within Indonesia, and is for an initial period of 60 days upon entry. Unlike VOA or tourist visas, sosbud visas can be extended within the country. Four 30-day extensions can be obtained, giving a total possible stay of six months.

Single Entry Business Visa (Business)

Business visas are issued for the following purposes:

To discuss matters within the framework of trade transactions

To make on the spot observations and to discuss trade terms for import-export business

Any business activity where person is not engaged as an employee

To attend international shows/exhibitions

To attend meetings held by a head office or representative in Indonesia

To discuss with Indonesian enterprises matters related to capital or commodity production by overseas enterprise

To investigate commercial possibilities within the framework of capital investment with prospective partners in Indonesia

To make a journalistic visit with the permission of a related agency/institution/department

To make a film for non-commercial purposes with the permission of a related institution

This visa is issued by an Indonesian embassy/consulate upon production of a letter from a sponsor from an Indonesian company, and is for an initial period of 60 days upon entry. Unlike VOA or tourist visas, sosbud visas can be extended within the country. Four 30-day extensions can be obtained, giving a total possible stay of six months.

Multiple Entry Social Visa (MESV)

Although Multiple Entry Social Visas are a theoretical possibility under current regulations, in the past year the immigration has made obtaining such visas difficult or impossible.

Normally, they are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance at the embassy, and are for visits of a maximum 60 days duration.

Visas such as these must be processed by the Immigration Office in Jakarta. Once processed -- usually taking three to five working days -- a "telex" of the visa approval letter is sent to the Indonesian embassy where you wish to pick up the visa. You then take a copy of the telex, your passport and passport photos to the Indonesian embassy on the approval letter, where the pre-approved visa will be stamped into the passport. This process can take up to three working days, and from the Embassy varies from US$100 to US$150.

Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV)

Multiple Entry Business Visa (MEBV) are commonly used by people backwards and forwards doing business in Indonesia. It is strongly stressed that the MEBV does not entitle you to work in Indonesia. The term "work" is defined very broadly by immigration officials, thus great care should be taken when describing your activities while here. The word "work" should be temporarily expunged from your vocabulary

MEBV are valid for 12 months from the date of issuance at the embassy, and are for visits of maximum 60 days duration.

Visas such as these must be processed by the Immigration Office in Jakarta. Once processed -- usually taking three to five working days -- a "telex" of the visa approval letter is sent to the Indonesian embassy where you wish to pick up the visa. You then take a copy of the telex, your passport and passport photos to the Indonesian embassy on the approval letter, where the pre-approved visa will be stamped into the passport. This process can take up to three working days, and from the Embassy varies from US$100 to US$150.